Nonlinear stability of a viscous axisymmetric jet (Q1194839)

Using the parallel flow assumption the authors conducted a nonlinear stability analysis for the viscous axisymmetric jet. The major objective of this work was, to derive a low order analogue of the Lorenz system for axisymmetric disturbances in the jet and determine whether such a system exhibits chaotic solutions. The model was validated by comparing the results with those obtained by a weakly nonlinear Stuart-Watson theory near the critical Reynolds number \(R_ c=55.3\). Retaining only the interaction between the fundamental and the mean-flow distortion, orbitally stable periodic solutions exist above \(R_ c\) but no chaotic solutions were found contrary to the situation for the Lorenz system. By adding the first harmonic resulted in a 5-D system of ordinary differential equations, the periodic solutions lose stability and bifurcate to quasi-periodic solutions at \(Re=72.3\). Selecting different shape functions lead to a homoclinic orbit and unbounded solutions following the quasi-periodic regime. But again no chaotic solutions were observed. These low-order models are therefore inadequate to study transition to turbulence and their range of validity remains untested.